While at GWU, Ayleen became passionate about Latin America and the problems and progress the region was experiencing. Ayleen studied abroad at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito where she researched China’s growing influence in the region, the impacts of mass migration, income inequality, and the importance of environmental justice.
Prior to joining WOLA full time, Ayleen interned for WOLA in the Fall of 2019 as a Foreign Policy intern for the Venezuela and Nicaragua Program. Later, she worked as a rental relief specialist at a community action agency and as a legislative aide in the Oregon State Legislature.